Careers in the Mental Health Field

Are you looking for a career that can change lives and make a positive impact? Consider the field of mental health. There is a growing demand for professionals in this field and a wide variety of opportunities in northern Indiana.

Jobs Available by Education and Training

Direct Care Workers

  • Work directly with individuals. Roles may include supporting daily living skills, education and managing behavior and emotions.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential facilities and specialized educational settings

Indirect Care Workers

  • Make a positive impact through providing food service, transportation and facilities care and maintenance. 
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential facilities and specialized educational settings

Nurses (CMAs, LPNs and RNs)

  • Provide medical and mental health care, administer medications, monitor physical and emotional wellbeing.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient and residential facilities

Peer Support Professionals

  • People in recovery from a mental health or substance use issue, or family members with experience navigating mental health systems, can help others on their journey. Roles and educational requirements vary by organization. Peers are often eligible for job training through their employer.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential facilities and community-based organizations

Educational requirement: Four years of college in the field of social work, psychology, human services or another related field

Case Managers

  • Support people reaching their personal mental health goals in a variety of ways. Examples include linking clients with needed resources, teaching new skills and other strategies that empower individual growth.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient and residential facilities

Nurses (RNs and BSNs)

  • Deliver comprehensive mental health nursing care, including assessment, care coordination, medication administration and patient education
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient and residential facilities

Specialized opportunities are available with a master’s degree.

Educational requirement: bachelor’s degree plus typically 40 additional graduate hours in a specialized discipline.

Art and Music Therapists

  • Guide individuals to explore and express emotions and feelings through art or music.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient and residential facilities

Social Workers and Counselors

  • Meet with individuals and small groups to support positive mental health strategies and to link individuals to other agencies, services and supports. While the roles are similar, degree paths differ. Counseling places more of an emphasis on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders or specific sets of problems. Social work, on the other hand, can involve counseling but also has a focus on helping clients navigate the system to get the help they need.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential and medical facilities and educational settings

Nurse Practitioners

  • Provide advanced mental health care, including assessing, diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Nurse practitioners may prescribe medication and develop individualized treatment plans.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient and residential facilities

Educational requirements: bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degree. (approx. 8 – 10 years)

Psychologists

  • Examine the cognitive and social factors that influence people’s actions and reactions. Psychologists employ a variety of therapeutic techniques to help patients heal from trauma and improve their mental health.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential and medical facilities and educational settings

Doctorate level degrees are also available in other areas of mental health, such as social work.

Educational requirements: bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, four years residency (12 years)

Psychiatrists

  • Diagnose, treat and prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders with the use of medication and psychotherapy.
  • Settings: outpatient, inpatient, residential and medical facilities and educational settings

Pursuing a Mental Health Education

Financial Assistance

Many local organizations seeking mental health professionals have scholarship opportunities and financial assistance for education in exchange for a commitment to continue working with them for a specific time period.

Local Institutions

Area colleges and universities offering majors in the mental health field include: